Motor-extension receptacle.



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APPLGATION FILED JUNE 23, 1905.

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7 O \ll 0 IMM 5 M C 9 G Z. .lulu lll 16v. \l\s\\l t /f ,0 7 0 l l 157e/6.5@ @al PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNEZB, 1905.

HHHHIIIH llll G WILLIUS, In MOTOR EXTENSION REGEPTAOLE.

GUSTAV WILLIUS, JR., OF S'l. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

NIOTOR-EXTENSION RECEPTCLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, i907.

Application i'iled June 23,1905. Serial No. 266,546.

To t/Z wher/t it may concern:

Be it known that l, GUsTAv WILLrUs, Jr., a resident of St. Paul, Ramsey county, Minnesota, have invented a certain new, useful, and Improved Motor-Extension Receptacle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in separable electric terminals for electric connectors, and has special reference to improvements in electrical connector plugs and sockets or receptacles therefor, for use in coupling electrical devices of portable or semi-portable nature to fixed electrical conductors of electricity.

The object of my invention is to provide a plug or receptacle of the class mentioned which shall be capable of employment in connection with either two or three wire circuits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple terminal connector, comprising a plug'and a receptacle of such form and arrangement of parts as to limit the same to a predetermined relation; and absolutely prevent a reversal of polarity in the connected circuits, through faulty manipulation of said lug.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a connector of the class described that shall be of simple and durable construction and which shall be effectively guarded against short-circuiting, and which, furthermore, shall be of great capacity and also highly efficient.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electric terminal connector which shall be adapted for either indoor or outdoor use.

@ther objects of my invention will appear hereinafter. g

My invention' consists generally in a multiple terminal electric connector comprising a plug and receptacle of the form, construction and combination of parts Ahereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. I

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the receptacle or socket portion of my invention, the casing thereof being broken away, to show the ter minal blades or springs which constitute the socket proper; Fig. 2 is an end view of the re ceptacle, a portion of the end Vplate being broken away to disclose the interior of the receptacle; Fig. 3 is a side view, showing my novel plug in position within the receptacle, the side of the casing being broken away for purposes of illustration; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the plug portion of my device, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the plug on the line -zt of Fig. 4.

l have designed the device illustrated in the drawings to serve electric apparatus that is operated from circuits carrying potentials or tensions up to six hundred volts and for both alternating and continuous current uses, the parts being proportioned accordingly.

lt will be understood that the proportions of my device, and to a certain extent, the relations of the parts, will be modified to suit different requirements.

lt will be understood that in general practice the permanent or fixed conductors may be connected to the terminals of the receptacle, and that the plug furnishes the terminals for the portable or semi-portable circuit, in-

cluding such translating devices as motors,

electric lamps or storage batteries.

Referring now to the drawings, 2, represents a metal base plate or frame, upon which a block of insulating material 3, such as slate, is secured by screws, 4. The rear end or top of the frame, 2, is provided with a semicircular end, 5, perpendicular to the plate and preferably integral therewith. The portion, 5, is provided with a shoulder, 6, to receive a metal casing, 7, further described hereinafter. At the front or lower end of the frame and secured to the plate or to the end of the block, 3, is a semicircular plate, S, of insulating material, having a substantially triangular opening, 9. The casing, 7, compresses a sheet or band of metal that is formed around the semicircular ends of the receptacle. sulating lining for the casing and both parts are firmly bound in place by screw devices provided at the sides of the frame, 2. l prefer that these devices shall comprise small brackets, 7, attached to the casing, 7, together with screws, 10, that are swiveled upon the plate, 2. The brackets, 7, are notched as shown in Fig. l, and nuts, l0', on the screws, 10, serve to bind the casing, 7, upon the semicircular ends of the receptacle frame. When the nuts, 10, are loosened,

A sheet of asbestos forms an in-A IOO IIO

the screws, 10, may be disengaged from the brackets, 7 and the casing with its asbestos lining may be quickly removed for access to the electrical connections within the receptacle. The end plate, 5, is provided with an insulating bushing or bushings, 5, through which the electrical conductors, A, B, C', enter the receptacle.

The receptacle or socket proper is erected upon the insulating block, 3, and has its free end extending through the triangular opening in the insulated end or diaphragm, 8. The principal members of the socket are three spring blades which occupy positions that conform to the three sides of a triangle, as best shown in Fig. 2 For a purpose hereinafter referred to, the base of the triangle thus formed is of greater length than either of the sides thereof. This determines the inclination of the blades B and C, with relation to each other and the blade A.

All of the blades are provided with outwardly turned ends to facilitate the entrance of the hereinafter described plug, and each blade has an intermediate crimp o: inward bend, A3, B3, C3, the oflice of which is to retain said plug. The blade, A, is provided with an additional inwa d bend, A2, near its inner, fixed end, serving as a stop for the plug. The lower blade, A, is parallel with the block, 3, and its inner end is secured to a metal block, 11, that is attached to block, 3, and provided with a terminal piece, 12, separably attached thereto. The fastenings for the blades, B and C, comprise blocks 13 and 14, having the angular bracket portions, 13 and 14 that are enlarged at their upper ends, to receive the inner ends of the spring blades, B and C, respectively.

As shown the blades, A, B and C, may be secured to respective blocks by screws or rivets, 15, and the blocks 13 and 14 have terminal pieces, 12l and 12, like unto the parts, 12, on block, 11. rlhe electrical conductors, A, B', (y, have their ends soldered in the parts l2, 12, 12, usually before the latter are fastened to respective blocks.

The novel plug of my invention is of simple construction.

16, is a metal tube that is threaded from end to end. This carries two triangular blocks 17 and 18 of insulating material, secured by threaded collars or nuts, 19, on said tube, 16. rlhe contact plates, 1A, 1B, 1C, are attached to the insulating blocks, 17 and 18, and bridge the space between said blocks. The plates are provided with intermediate crimps o r inward bends, 20, which correspond to the crimps or bends in the receptacle springs or blades.

21, represents a handle of insulating material screwed upon the threaded tube, 16, serving also as a locking nut for all the other threaded parts on said tube. The electric Wires or conductors, 22, 23, and 24 extend through the tube, 16, and are lead out through openings, 25, therein, between the parts, 17 and 18. The ends of the wires are soldered or otherwise secured to the inner sides of respective contact plates.

It will be noted that the triangular arrangement of the contact plates on the plug corresponds to the arrangement of the spring blades of the socket, and it is evident that as the triangle formed is of irregular shape, the plug can be inserted in the socket in only one position. By this simple arrangement of parts I am able to prevent accidental or intentional misuse of the plug, which would otherwise result in the reversal of polarities in the circuit represented by the plug.

My plug has the distinct advantage of being adjustable, in the sense that its spring blades may be given any desired degree of bow by moving the insulating block, 17, in-

ward or outward upon the threaded shank of the plug, through the agency of the threaded collars or nuts, 19.

Another advantage of my device is that the spring blades of the socket or receptacles, being disposed in triangular form, exert pressure toward a common center and thus tend to maintain uniform contact with the plates of the plug throughout.

It is obvious that the gist of my invention, to-wit, the triangular 'form and arrangement of the socket and plug, is capable of embodiment in numerous forms. Further the socket may be arranged in a casing of greater size than here shown and containing other electrical devices and generally as various modifications of my invention will readily suggest themselves to one skilled in the art I do not confine the invention to the specific constructions herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a device of the class described, a socket comprising three relatively triangularly positioned spring blades and a suitable insulating support, all of said blades having intermediate crimps and one thereof being provided with an inward bend or stop portion, in combination with a plug comprising suitably connected triangular blocks and contact plates, provided with intermediate crimps, upon the sides or faces of said blocks and suitably insulated, substantially as dcscribed.

2. In a device of the class described, a socket or receptacle comprising triangularly disposed spring blades and an insulating support therefor, in combination with a plug comprising an insulating body, three contact plates triangularly disposed thereon and means for adjusting the bow of said plates, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, a suitable frame having an end, 5, in combination IOS with a corresponding insulating end, 8, a casing conforming to said ends, an insulating lining for said casing, means for detachably securing said casing upon said frame, and socket members suitably insulated within the inc'losure formed by said frame, said ends and said casing, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, a suitable frame having an end, 5, in combination with a corresponding insulating` end, S, a casing conforming to said ends, an insulating lining for said casing, means for detahably securing lsaid casing upon said iframe, and three triangularly disposed spring blades suitably supported and insulated upon said frame with their ends extending through said insulated end, substantially as described.

5. In a device of `the class described, a suitable frame, in combination with an insulating block upon said frame, suitable ends for said frame, the latter having a Atriangular opening, a casing detachably secured to said frame, and triangularly disposed spring blades attached to said insulating block, and having their ends extending through said triangular opening in the end, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a suitable iraine in combination with an insulating` block thereon, a closed end member on one end of said frame and an end member of insulating material provided with a suitable opening on the opposite end, socket mombers provided upon said block, and a casing having an insulating lining conforming to said ends, and means upon said frame for binding said casing upon said ends, substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, an insulating block or support, in combination with a spring blade, A, attached thereto, angular blocks attached to said insulating support, a pair of spring blades B and C attached to said angular blocks and angularly disposed with reference to said blade A, substantially as described.

8. In a device of the class described, an

insulating block or support, 3, in combination with a blade A, having a crimp or bend, A', and a stop bend, A2, blades, B and C, each provided with a crimp or bend, and suitable means for supporting said blades, A, B and C, in triangular relation, upon said block,v 3, substantially as described.

9. In a device of the class described, a plug comprising a threaded tube, in combination with triangular blocks of insulating material adjustably secured upon the said tube, suitable crimped contact plates attached to said block, and a suitable handle, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described, a threaded tube, 16, provided with openings, 25, in combination with insulating blocks, 17 and 18, adjustably arranged upon said threaded tube, contact plates arranged upon the sides of said blocks and extending therebetween and a suitable handle arranged upon said threaded tube, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a device of the class described, a metallic frame, in combination with a block of insulating material thereon, a p air of metal blocks attached to said insulating blocl and provided with angular portions, a third metal block interposed between said metal blocks and attached to said insulating block, and spring blades attached to said angular portions and said interposed block respectively, one of said blades being provided with an inward bend or stop portion, substantially as described.

12. In a device of the class described a triangular member, provided with an insulating handle, and having an adjustable contact plate upon each side of said triangular member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this 13th day of J une, 1905, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAV I/VILLIUS, JR. Witnesses:

K. DE ETTA CAVANAUGH, FRANK SCHROFER. 

